Eleni Mavrou
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Eleni Mavrou (Greek: Ελένη Μαύρου, Elénē Maýroy) is the mayor of Nicosia, Cyprus. She was elected in December 2006 becoming the first female mayor of Cyprus's capital. Born in Kyrenia in 1961, her family was forced to leave their house in 1974 due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and since then has been residing in Nicosia.
[edit] Student career
Mavrou initially studied Civil Engineering at the Higher Technical Institute in Nicosia, but continued her education at the University of London where she obtained her BSc degree in Politics and International Relations.
During her student years, Ms Mavrou was actively involved in Cypriot local student movement and later in the progressive youth movement. Among other things, she held the position of Vice President of the Cyprus Federation of Students and Young Scientists, and was appointed Secretary General of EDON.
[edit] Political career
As a member of AKEL’s Central Committee, Ms Mavrou’s efforts were focused on the areas of Local Authority and the Environment for many years. In addition, she demonstrated a great interest in human rights issues and played an active role in the women’s movement.
She served as a Councilor on the Nicosia Municipal Council for two consecutive terms from 1986 to 1996. In 2001 she was elected in Nicosia to be among AKEL’s members of the House of Representatives, and was re-elected to the same position in 2006.
She served as President of the House Committee on the Environment and a member of the House Committees on Internal Affairs and Human Rights.
She was a member of the European Convention on the Future of the European Union, and in 2003 was appointed by the House of Representatives as a Cyprus observer at the European Parliament. After Cyprus’s accession to the European Union and until the elected Cyprus Members of the European Parliament took office, Ms Mavrou represented Cyprus at the European Parliament. During the same period, she was a member of the Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as well as the Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs.
Ms Mavrou has been conferred the Knight of the Order of Merit by the Government of France.
In the Municipal Elections which were held on 17 December 2006, she ran as the candidate of the Municipal Coalition which united the three parties of AKEL, DIKO and EDEK. She was elected Mayor of Nicosia, and took office on 2 January 2007 and since then she is not a member of House of Representatives.
She is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award.
